The applied geography courses place a strong emphasis on computer literacy and spatial analysis skills in preparing students for careers in site assessment, marketing and demographic analysis. The Geography Department's  Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer lab features state-of-the-art hardware and software.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Study the world from a spatial perspective and be able to identify problems resulting from that study.
2. Design and apply appropriate methodologies which investigate some of those problems.
3. Suggest problems and hypothesize solutions to the problems with the use of statistical, methodological and theoretical tools.
4. Develop the skills necessary to gather relevant information, evaluate it critically, and communicate it effectively.
5. Define the five themes of Geography (place, location, region, movement, human-environment interaction) and apply this knowledge globally (national learning objective).  Students will be able to:

• Locate and analyze the spatial patterns and features of major landforms, bodies of water, climate and vegetation regions
• Explain interactions between natural and human systems within the earth's environment
• Locate and analyze major features of human activity on the earth, such as urban centers, agricultural regions, political divisions and patterns of development
• Organize the earth's surface into logical regions at different scales, such as neighborhoods, metropolitan areas, regions of the US and other recognized regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, the Pacific Rim, etc.
• Use the techniques of geography and GIS to cartographically represent spatial patterns of physical and human phenomena
• Spatially analyze numerical data and communicate their meaning and context

Program Standard Grade Point Average Requirement

The major GPA is calculated by all courses identified in the college catalog as required for the major. In addition, this program has an established program standard GPA which may be used to determine progress in the program.

• Program Standard GPA
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0 in CAP 327, 328, or any GRY course
• Geographic Information Systems Major Requirements
  • 31 credits in CAP 327, 328, or any GRY course

Career Potential

• Environmental GIS specialist
• Land use planner
• Marketing and business geographics consultant
• Law enforcement analyst
• Transportation planner
• Emergency response planner